Clever poem John, but allow me to throw in my 2 cents from family experience. My sweet, quiet, shy nephew was depressed & suicidal in his early 20s. He came out as trans, slowly transitioned to a transwoman (medical & therapeutic assistance), and is now my sweet (still somewhat shy) niece. Our family has been open-minded and kind with this experience; it has been an educational process for all of us. My niece seems so comfortable in her skin now. We humans are an interesting species-- kindness is the guiding light. (No offense taken to your poem John; written in the spirit of fun I think.)

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

What a fabulous image, Steve: someone pretending to be a policeman inspecting the genitalia of someone pretending to be a woman. Marvellous stuff.

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

An extraordinarily well-observed poem, Ray. The same phenomenon everywhere, I think.

Comment is about OLD SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

The Haiku form makes a powerful statement here, Holden.

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

The subtle structure and rhyming builds up to an immense impact in the final line, David.

Comment is about Easter, the resurrection of man (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

You're welcome Holden Moncrieff. Coming straight from Kevin (although he is protecting himself and his loves now). Those
vengeful suicidals. So much of a problem. How should we name them?

Vengesidals? (written: Vengesuidal)

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Jakey’s got a new job
Care of that Supreme Court mob
What’s inside your boxers or briefs?
Jakey’s joined the toilet police

Jakey’s simply upholding the act
He needs to see your biological fact
He’s got his eye on your tomboy niece
Jakey’s joined the toilet police

An orderly queue, if you please
At the checkpoint for the Ladies
In his jackboots and company fleece
Jakey’s joined the toilet police

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

A haunting lament that puts into words the dread that I believe we all feel.
Words like like "hope" and "peace" are frequently used to asway our fears, but long term, the insane warmongers who seek personal unlimited power without restraint, will drag us all into their chaos.

Comment is about They Will Not See (blog)

Original item by Trevor Alexander

Thanks Flyntland and to all those who sent likes.

I think it important to recognise that although there are many passages of text in religious scripture that endorse harm, it is the actions of mankind that manifest the text.

There is choice.

We should not forget that religious texts were written by men in order to control and direct the masses.

As for so called "evil" I suspect its potential exists within us all...

David RL Moore

PS, The issue I have with the word evil, is that it implies a force outside of the human which somehow possesses them.

It suggests absolution/excuse for individual actions by proposing such an external entity.

Comment is about Easter, the resurrection of man (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thanks both @David (R L Moore)🌷 and @John (Coopey)🌷 a poet’s impasse from either direction.🕊🙏🏻

Comment is about sword or pen? (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Thank you, Auracle, for your apt and beautiful reference! 🌷😊

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Brings back memories for me too

Comment is about A LAMENT FOR CHILDHOOD (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

Like Tupac Shakur once wrote:

'Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else even cared!'

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Brave

Comment is about The Post Trauma Session (blog)

Original item by Shirley Birch

Having faith is a wonderful thing. It's what you have faith in that matters. Certainly not religion

Comment is about FAITH WITHOUT HOPE - OR CHARITY this is a second posting (blog)

Original item by Flyntland

Thank you, Graham, John F B, and John, for your lovely comments, they mean a lot! 😊💖

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

I left my Faith School at fifteen - naive and uneducated -and breathed a huge sigh of relief the day I left.

Never again would i be made to go to Confession. I no longer had to give a reason as to why I missed Mass, I did not have to observe 'Holy Days of Obligation' but best of all I did not have to believe the unbelievable just because we were told to.
As quite a young child I felt that the rituals and responses were a disguised way of asserting control - escape was sweet.

Evil is buried in many religions,

'With God On My Side" (any God will do) invasions can be justified at any level from an individual child to vast continents.

Comment is about Easter, the resurrection of man (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Ray, a wonderful piece! I still use my father's wooden handled chisels and screwdrivers (flat headed only of course).
I defy anyone not to connect with their ancestors when holding a tool they have used to create/mend/repair something with.
I can also hear his voice sometimes.

Ironically chimney sweeps are still going strong!!

Comment is about OLD SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL (blog)

Original item by ray pool

Thank you Marla, I was 90% sure that was what Uilleam was hinting out, thanks for the link

Comment is about The Songbird. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

I can’t see Putin pulling back his forces in favour of writing a few stanzas instead.

Comment is about sword or pen? (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

The power of life.

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

Thankyou for the likes and for your comment Graham.

I was indoctrinated into an evangelical form of Christianity from a very early age Graham. Sunday school became a form of torture for me. I simply could not understand some of the fundamental building blocks of the belief system.

As for what makes men evil or otherwise, I have never managed to fathom that...other than there is little doubt of the gulf between the two states.

Evil, with it's religious connotations is a contentious word...I think few people give that much thought, that said it describes the affiliation well.

I'm not sure if you recall, years ago I posted a poem and used a photograph of a murdered child on a beach in Gaza to impact upon the reader. I remember you didn't much like what I had done (a position I respect)

That image (together with my personal experience in Gaza) is the well I drew from whilst writing this piece.

Thanks again.

David RL Moore

Comment is about Easter, the resurrection of man (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Quite right, Telboy. And thanks for the Likes, Trevor, Nigel, Larisa and Holden.

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Hello Shirley,

I always considered "invalid" a cruel and thoughtless word. It is difficult now to understand why it was ever used so glibly.

It is a good thing the word has become almost obsolete, although I'm sure some people still use it.

Words are hugely important to people on an individual level and to us all as collective communities. It is unfortunate that our species seems to be regressing when considering the careful and diplomatic use of language.

A circumstance which can lead often to much distress and conflict.

David RL Moore

Comment is about The Post Trauma Session (blog)

Original item by Shirley Birch

This poem seems spare, like it could be fleshed out and made more flamboyant and pretty, but resists a floweriness - to its credit I would say. 😎

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

It's all a load of bollocks...or perhaps it isn't !!!???

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

The epitome of true willpower and strength

Comment is about Triumph. (blog)

Original item by Holden Moncrieff

I have spent my life questioning and challenging what I learned at Sunday School. I am left wondering just what it is that makes people either good or evil

Comment is about Easter, the resurrection of man (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Thanks for the likes and comments

David

Comment is about The infinity of consequence (blog)

Original item by David RL Moore

Here's a good reading of Caged Bird by Maya Angelo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLzULmvSSQc

Marla

Comment is about The Songbird. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

In the famous words of Edmund Blackadder, there was only one problem with the plan,

"It was Bollox"

David RL Moore

Comment is about For f*** sake (blog)

Original item by Edbreathe

Both!

Comment is about sword or pen? (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Uilleam, why do cage birds sing? I feel I aught to know something here possibly by another poet.

Comment is about The Songbird. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

thank you Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh for your kind words and thought full comments , It can be applied to journalism (i didnt think that before) and yes many brave ones are killed or put behind bars as in Turkey now

Comment is about Behind Bars (blog)

Original item by David R Mellor

Thanks guys
As always it just came out . No predetermined idea .
But I got more angry as it went on !

Comment is about For f*** sake (blog)

Original item by Edbreathe

Thankyou, Stephen and Edbreathe and RedBrick for the Likes.
Anyone "identify" the tune?

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

Exquisitely worded dear Uilleam 🙏🏻🕊️thank you kindly. 🙏🏻🕊️🌷

Comment is about w o r d s (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Madcap brilliance, John.

Comment is about SELF-IDENTIFY (blog)

Original item by John Coopey

I admire the sincerity and power of this, Pete.

Comment is about For f*** sake (blog)

Original item by Edbreathe

The plug-in gives you peace of mind for long journeys, I suppose, John. So far we have never driven beyond the range of the vehicle (Belgian coast and back), but doing longer journeys and getting close to 0% must be a bit like driving naked.

Comment is about Full Electric (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thank you, Uilleam and Graham. Actually, I'm very happy with my full electric (range 500km), although I rarely go much further than the newsagents, and on balance electric cars are better for the environment (until some future time when it becomes politically possible to argue that private car ownership of any sort is unsustainable for the planet).

In the meantime, I opted for this bit of fun and would like to thank all who commented or liked it.

Graham - Yes, if only it had a meter you could use to revive it!

Uilleam - I've always found the range quite reliable, but I have heard a story of someone caught in a long diversion in the wastes of Northern France! Maybe they are still there.

Comment is about Full Electric (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

We’re on our 2nd electric car, Stephen (plug in hybrid, actually). When the battery runs out it switches to petrol automatically.. So no anxiety there (unless the petrol runs out!).
And in answer to your question, Uilleam - about the same as in the manufacture of a petrol car, I would have thought.

Comment is about Full Electric (blog)

Original item by Stephen Gospage

Thanks Marla.
You pose important questions, I think Rolph has a good answer.

Comment is about Echoes Of Contentment (blog)

Original item by Marla Joy

I know why the caged bird sings.
💗

Comment is about The Songbird. (blog)

Original item by JD Russell

Simply by holding up a sheet of whatever material into the wind, we can be propelled across oceans, to the four corners of the globe; what a wonder!

Comment is about Sails of a Giant (blog)

Original item by Rolph David

The ancient need,
to make our mark,
percieve a pattern,
tell our tale,
old as
mankind
itself.

Comment is about w o r d s (blog)

Original item by Red Brick Keshner

Thanks for your likes
Hugh
Holden Moncrieff
Edbreathe

Her only weapon was a Camera. Two days after her work had been celebrated at Cannes Festival, she was bombed to death, together with ten of her family members.
Journalists, poets, artists, musicians, anyone in search of, and telling the truth about the genocide of the Palestinian people, you are now all legitimate targets.

Comment is about Haiku for 2025 [No.11] (blog)

Original item by Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Thanks, Mike.
I distinguish, correctly or not, between "solitude" (which I've often sought out, seeking refuge from the madding crowd), and "loneliness", an imposed, inescapable condition?

Comment is about Lonely (blog)

Original item by Mike Bartram

I am an
indefinite article.

Comment is about The Post Trauma Session (blog)

Original item by Shirley Birch

Don't worry Edbreathe, the nominal head of the Christian faith in the UK, the newly-branded "Defender of Faiths", Charlie III, together with the help of his Prime Minister for genocide have got it sorted; Onward Christian Soldiers, Carry On Killing!

Comment is about For f*** sake (blog)

Original item by Edbreathe